Spark-plug-wire manifold



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,783

- H. SCHWARZE SPARK PLUG WIRE MANIFOLD Filed 0 ot. 1927 gwomhw Ki i a '9"? Patented Jan. 1, 1922.

UNITED STATES A insists:

PATENT @FFEQE.

HERMAN SCHWARZE, OF BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SPARK-PLUG-WIRE MANIFOLD.

Application filed October 7, 1927.

The present invention relates to a spark plug wire manifold for enclosing and supporting the ignition system wires of an internal combustion engine. 7

It has been found that whenever the high tension lead wire from the coil to the distributor gets a complete turn around one of the spark plug wires, as it is quite likely to do in most assemblies, a current is induced in that particular wire and misfiring results. It is an object of this invention to so construct the wire manifold that no misfiring will result from the above cause.

More specifically, it is an object of this in vent-ion to provide a spark plug wire manifold with a separate fastening means so that the high tension lead wire from the coil to the distributor may be held firmly in position so that it cannot become wound around any of the spark plug wires.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end View of an internal combustion engine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side View of the wire manifold, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure l is a section on the line 4:4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a portion of a conventional internal combustion engine comprising a crankcase 10, cvlinaer block 12, and distributor housing 14 which is provided with a cap 16. While not limited in its application to an engine with any particular number of cylinders, I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a six cylinder engine. Connected with the cap 16 are the six spark plug wires 18, the coil primary wire 20 and the coil secondary wire 21.

Mounted on the side of the engine is a T- shaped manifold 26 comprising an upper horizontal portion 32 and an inclined lower arm 34. The manifold is supported on brackets 28 fixed to the opposite ends of the engine block by means of cap screws 30. The spark plug wires 18 extend up through the arm 3 1 and branch out, being extended in pairs through the ends of the horizontal portion Serial No. 224,633.

32 and through an aperture 36 adjacent the center thereof.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the manifold comprises two half sections, welded or otherwise fastened together. Fixed in position between the two sections in the arm 34 and adjacent the rear end of the horizontal portion. 32 are two clips 40 and 4-2 respectively. The coil secondary wire, which is the high tension lead wire, is extended through these clips and extends rearwardly from the manifold to the induction coil (not shown). The coil primary wire, which is a low tension wire, is extended loosely through the mani fold and also extends rearward-1y to the coil and to a suitable ignition switch (not shown). Each wire is suitably insulated.

The structure just described has the further advantage that it is well ventilated. It is well known that in a manifold of this character, the wires carrying the current are caused to rub against each other and wear some of the rubber away, thus tending to cause the occurrence of electric arcs and the consequent formation of ozone. The manifold just described is open at the three ends and at the juncture of the'vertical and horizontal portions and the ozone formed as described is carried away before it can exercise an oxidizing effect on the rubber insulating material and cause it to become brittle and crack.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine including a high tension lead wire and spark plug wires, a manifold having a common passage for said wires, and means within said manifold for holding said lead wire in fixed position.

2. In an internal combustion engine including a high tension lead wire'and spark HERMAN SCHWARZE. 

